This time, a little over a year ago, one of my best friends was encouraging me to watch "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," the straight-to-Netflix sitcom by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock. At the time, I was busy with end-of-the-semester projects for a full course load, but I came across the show one Friday night when I was perusing Netflix and remembered my friend raving about it and how funny it was. I was intrigued by the description: "When a woman is rescued from a doomsday cult and lands in New York City, she must navigate a world she didn't think even existed anymore."
It didn't sound much like comedy to me. This sounded more like the Lifetime movies my mother and I often get sucked into, the kind involving a mother who has to save her daughter from being brainwashed by a tyrant ranch owner or her toddler from a nanny/murderer.
Still, I clicked, I watched, and I was hooked. It was a classic binge-watch situation. By Saturday afternoon, I had finished the first season and was desperate for more. I loved the zany main character, the titular Kimmy Schmidt, and the quick, razor-sharp commentary on social and political climes. Left with over a year before the second season came out, I rewatched the first season again and again. Each time, I caught something that I had missed before in the pointed dialogue or Easter eggs in the background. More and more of my friends started getting hooked on the show as well and lots of them told me that Kimmy reminded them of me, which I always took as a compliment. I got my mother addicted and even my brother, who watched most of it from the living room stairs believing that he was hidden.
It has a magnetic appeal, that's for sure. The fast-paced plot keeps you watching, as do extremely frequent pop culture references. You never know what Kimmy and her companions are going to do or say next. As such, I have been able to count on this show to make me laugh no matter how bad of a day I am having.
The sudden loss of my maternal grandfather this past Thursday left me needing more laughs than ever and Kimmy was there, with her wacky outfits, one-liners, and unfailingly positive take on the world.
As an avid fan, I counted down the days to the premiere of the second season last Friday. I have not been disappointed so far, even though I'm only a few episodes in. If you haven't discovered this show yet, I recommend clearing your calendar. You've got two seasons' worth of laughter and pointed political commentary to discover.
